Early Voting

Registered voters can request that an Early Voting ballot be mailed directly to them prior to each election, or they can visit the Election Commission and vote early in person. They can also have someone pick up a ballot for them prior to the election.

Early Voting Ballot Applications are available no earlier than 120 days prior to an election. There are no Early Voting Ballot Applications available at this time, but you may sign up for the Early Voting Request List with the following form:

The Douglas County Election Commission has established ten drop box locations to give voters an opportunity to return their early voting ballots without having to use the mail (there is also a drop box located outside the Election Commission office). These drop boxes are available during the period of early voting (35 days prior to each statewide primary and general election, 22 days prior to an all-mail special election, and 15 days prior to a polling place special election). The drop boxes will accept early voting ballots up until the close of polls on election day (8:00 p.m. for polling place elections and 5:00 p.m. for all-mail elections).

Voters can have a ballot sent directly to them in the mail, either to their home address or to another address if they are away from home. Voters should send an Early Voting Ballot Application to the Election Commission requesting a ballot be mailed to them.

Requirements:

Completed applications may be returned to the Election Commission by mail or in person to 225 N 115 St, Omaha, NE 68154; by fax to (402) 444-4181; or by email by attaching a picture of the completed application and sending it to earlyvoting@votedouglascounty.com

A voter can print an Early Voting Ballot Application or send us a request with the following information.

Name of Election (e.g. 2010 General Election)

Voter’s Name

Voter’s Home (Registered) Address

Address where ballot should be mailed, if different from voter’s home address

Voter’s Date of Birth

Voter’s Phone Number

Voter’s Email Address

Voter’s Signature or the signature of the person acting as an agent

All requests must be received by 6:00 p.m. on the second Friday prior to each election.

Envelopes:

A return envelope (pictured below) is included with the early voting ballot. The return envelopes are gold-colored and measure 6 inches by 9 inches. Voters must sign the back of the return envelope in order for the ballot to be counted.

In July 2018, the Douglas County Election Commission began offering a program for voters to sign up to be on the Early Voting Request List.

This program includes the following:

Voter that plans to vote early by mail for future scheduled elections signs up to be on the mailing list by checking the box on the By-Mail Early Voting Ballot Application while requesting a ballot for an election or by completing the Early Voting Request List Sign-Up Form during non-election times. See top of page for form.

Voter receives a postcard application approximately 2 to 3 months prior to each scheduled election.

Voter must complete, sign, and return the postcard application in order to have an early voting ballot mailed to them.

Voter that prefers to vote at their polling place on Election Day should not sign up to be on this list.

The voter can vote his or her ballot at the Election Commission, or the voter can take his or her ballot home as long as the ballot is returned to the Election Commission or a drop box location before 8:00 p.m. on election day.

In-person early voting takes place 30 days prior to a statewide election and fifteen days prior to all other elections (e.g. City of Omaha Elections, School Bond Elections, Levy Override Elections, etc.).

Nebraska residents currently living outside of the United States can register to vote and apply for early voting ballots at the same time by filling out a Federal Post Card Application from the Federal Voting Assistance Program website.

This application for early voting ballots would apply for all elections within the current calendar year. Applications should be sent to the Election Commission as soon as possible each year. Military and Overseas ballots will be mailed at least 45 days prior to each statewide election.

Voter Registration Applications cannot be accepted later than the third Friday before the election in question in order to vote in that election (if the voter registration application is sent by mail). (Nebraska Statutes § 32-939)

To learn more, you can visit the Secretary of State's military and overseas website.

Eligible voters include:

Members of the armed forces of the United States or the United States Merchant Marine, and their spouses and dependents residing with them

Anyone who is a registered voter in Douglas County and is a patient in a Douglas County hospital on election day is eligible to have his or her ballot delivered to the hospital by an Election Commission representative.

The patient, or an agent acting on the patient's behalf, must complete an Early Voting Ballot Application, which can be obtained from a hospital staff member.

All patient applications must be received by the Election Commission by 5:00 p.m. the day before the election.

If a patient needs assistance marking or reading his or her ballot, a Voter Assistance Oath must be completed and returned with the ballot.

All completed Early Voting Ballot Applications must be faxed, mailed, or delivered to the Douglas County Election Commission no later than 4:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before election day.

If a resident needs assistance marking or reading his or her ballot, a Voter Assistance Oath must be completed and returned with the ballot.

Upon completion, the ballots must be returned in their respective envelopes to the Election Commission by mail or in person.

Ballots must be returned to the Election Commission or a drop box location by 8:00 p.m. on election day.

There are a number of deadlines related to voter registration and early voting. Please review them carefully so that residents have the opportunity to vote each election.

All Nebraska Voter Registration Applications must be received by the voter registration deadline in order for a resident to vote in the upcoming election.

Please note that Early Voting Ballot Applications may be faxed or mailed to the Election Commission; however, all Nebraska Voter Registration Applications must be mailed to the Election Commission or delivered in person. We are unable to accept any faxed voter registration applications.